Boiler cleaner



Nov. 1, 1932. SNOW 1,886,060

BOILER CLEANER Original Filed Nov. 26, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l Gum/M1 5 N. L. SNOW BOILER CLEANER Nov. 1, 1932.

Original Filed Nov. 26, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwentoq, fllarmam/ QASZmaw aflimeg-s III NOV. 1, NO 1,886,060

BOILER CLEANER Original Filed Nov. 26, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gi-nuewl oz /V0 rm/u/n/ 4.622046 61 (Imam; 5

Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORMAN L. SNOW, OF NEW GANAAN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO DIAMOND POWER it SPECIALTYCORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN 1 Barman CLEANER Application filed November 26, 1928, Serial No. 677,165. Renewed May 12, 1931.

is to provide a boiler cleaner of the abovementioned type having means cooperating with the hand operated chain for automatically limiting its movement, thereby d1recting the attention of the operator to the fact that the blower element has been rotated through a predetermined angular travel which may be greater or less than 860. A further object of the invention is the provision of a boiler cleaner having a common actuating member for rotating the blower element and opening and closing the valve which controls the admission of the steam or the like to the blower element.

With these as well as other objects in View, the invention further resides in the novel features oi construction as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boiler cleaner embodying my invention;

Figure? is an end view thereof partly in section;

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing a modified construction;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the outer end of the valve arm;

F igurcs 6 and 7 are respectively a side elevation and an end view of another modified construction.

In the construction of boiler cleaner shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, 1 is the rotaryblower element or pipe provided with a longitudinal series of nozzles for ischarging etsof steam or the like upon the boiler tubes of the boiler.

' This blower element is connected in thelusual manner as by means of a swivel to the stationary supply pipe 2 in the upper end of which is located the valve 3 for controlling the aomission of steam or the likefto the blower element. The blower element is rotated by the manual operation of the chain a which runs over the sprocket wheel or sheave 5, which sprocket wheel or sheave is operatively connected to the blower element by suitable reduction gearing such as the pinion 6 and the gear 7 The valve 8 is .nioved to open position by means of the pivotal lever 8 and the cam 9 rotatable with the'blower element. As thus far described, the construction of boiler cleaner is usual for this type o1"- boiler cleaner.

For the purpose of automatically calling the attention of the operator to the fact that the blower element has been rotated through a predetermined angular travel which may be greater or less than 360 depending upon the conditions, I have provided the stop 10 in the form of a multi arm wheel 11 upon the shaft 12 at one side of the chain 4 and so positioned that the outer ends of the arm come into engagement with the chain. These outer ends, as shown particularly in Figure 3, are longitudinally slotted to form bifurcations 12 adapted to embrace the chain, but spaced apart a distance such that the balls 13 secured upon-the chain at predetermined in tervals, cannot pass therebetween. Two of the diametrically opposite extending arms have their outer ends curved in a direction opposite to that of rotation oi the wheel, the radius of curvature being approximately equal'tothe radius of the balls so that the latter may fit in the former. The wheel is prevented from rotating in the opposite direction by means of the dog 14 having its nose engageable with the annular series of teeth 15 upon the hub of the wheel.

With this arrangement, the operator, upon pulling the chain 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, rotates the blower element 1 and also actuates the valve 3. Furthermore, during the operation of the chain, the balls 13 come successively into contact with the upper sides of the bifurcations 12 of the arms of the stop Wheel, and

if the arms are straight, the balls move the arms downwardly to a point where the former slide oil? the latter, thereby efi'ecting a step-by-step rotation of the stop I wheel. However, as soon as a ball comes into contact with an arm having an outer curved end, this ball while moving the arm downwardly is compelled to move laterally from the usual path taken by the chain until a point is finally reached where the stop wheel will actually hold the chain from further movement, thereby directing the operatcrs attention to the fact that the boiler cleaner has been operated for a predetermined length of time. When the movement of the chain has been stopped, the valve 3 is preferably closed. To operate the boiler cleaner for another predetermined period of time, it is necessary for the operator to first pull down on the opposite side of the chain to raise the ball engaging the curved arm to thereby disengage the ball therefrom. Thisis possible, by reason of the fact that the stop wheel is held from rotation in the reverse direction by means of the dog 14 engaging the teeth 15. As soon as the ball has been raised out of agement with the curved arm, it will then swing laterally with the chain to its normal position whereupon as the operator pulls down upon the chain to move the same in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, the ball, will slide over the outer end of the curved arm and the succeeding balls will successively engage and move the succeeding arms through predetermined arcs until a ball comes into engt with the other curved arm and is .1121 from further movement.

In the modified construction shown in 4 and 5, the rotary blower element 16' is actuated by the chain 17 in the same manner as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The valve 18 for controlling the admission of the Steam or the like to the blower element, is also moved to open and closed positions by means of the chain '17. This valve has :se- (H red thereto the arm 19 which extends into the peath of the chain and is provided with the y hole slot 20 at its outer end through which the same passes. The chain is provided with the series of balls 21 secured thereto at predetermined intervals and the enlarged portion of the key-hole slot 20 is of asize to permit these balls to pass therethrough, but the reduced portion of the keyhole slot is sufficiently narrow to prevent the balls from passing therethrough. Furthermore, the enlarged portion of the keyhole slot is located beyond the reduced portion, and as a consequence when the parts are in the position shown by full lines in Figure 4, the chain upon being pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow passes through the reduced portion of the key-hole slot until a ball comes into contact with the upper side oi the arm, after which continued movement of the chain in the same directioncompels downward swinging of the arm and consequent moving of the valve to closed position. .When the arm reaches the position indicated by dotted lines, the ball will then slide outwardly and downwardly upon the arm and pass through the enlarged portion of the key-hole slot, leaving the valve in closed position. To move the rotary element in the opposite direction and move the valve to open position, the chain is moved in the opposite direction, at which time it passes upwardly through the reduced portion of the keyhole-slot until a ball comes into enwith the underside of the arm, after which, the arm is swung upwardly to the position indicated by full lines when the valve is 0 Upon continued movement of the chain in the same direction, the ball slides outwardly along the underside of the arm and passes through the enlarged portion of the key-hole slot, after which the chain may be moved in the same direction until rotation of the blower element is stopped.

Figures 6 and 7 disclose another'modified construction of boiler cleaner in which 22 is the rotary blower element having nozzles through which steam or the like is discharged upon the boiler tubes. This blower element projects from the blower head 28 and isrotated by means of the chain 23 passing over the sheave 24, which latter is connected to the blower element by means of the pinion 25-and gear 26. 27 is the valve controllin the passage of steam or the like throng the stationary supply pipe 28 to the blower head 28 and blower element 22.

In the present instance the valve is opened and closed upon actuation of the chain 23 in one direction. In detail, this valve has secured thereto the multi-arm wheel 29 having the arms 30, 31,- 32 and 33 provided with outer bifurcated ends through which the chain is adapted to extend. This chain has secured thereto the enlargements or balls 31 which are so located that upon actuating the chain in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 7 the valve will be moved from closed to open position by a ball engaging the arm rotating the multi-arm wheel 29 in a clockwise direction to a point Where the ball will slide off the arm. At this time the valve is in open position and the arm 31 now occupies the position originally occupied by the arm .30. Upon continued actuation of the chain in the same direction, the succeeding ball 34 engages the arm 31 rotating the multi-arm wheel 29 in a clockwise direction to a position to close the valve, after which the ball slides off the arm. ,The spacing of the balls may be such that the blower element may be rotated any desired number of times while the valve is open and before it is closed. While, as shown, the mul'ti-arm wheel is provided with fourarins, it is apparent that the number of arms may be readily varied.

What I claim'as my invention is: .el. Inj'a boiler, cleaner; the combination with the blower element and a" valve for controlling the admission'otsteam or the like thereto, of a flexiblemember for actuating said blower element having an enlargement, and means cooperating with said enlargement for causing the actuation of said valve, said means including a. slotted arm.

2. In a -boiler cleaner, the combination with the blower elment, of a valve controlling theadmission of steam or the like to said blower element, and a flexible member operatively conncctedtoactuate said blower element, said flexible member being provided at predetermined intervals along-its length with means adaptedto coact with said valve to actuate the latter. l

3. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with the blower element, eta-valve controlling the admission of steam or the like to said blower element-,a flexible member for actuating said blower element, and means upon "said valve and flexible member-for actuating the former from thelatter. l l

4. In aboiler cleaner, the combination with a blowerelement, of a valve for controlling the admission of steam or the like to said blower element, a flexible member for actuating said blower element provided with an enlargement, and an arm connected to said valve and provided with a slotthrough which saidflexible member-extends, the slot having a width lessthan that of said enlargement, whereby movement ofsaidflexible member and enlargement is adapted to compel movement of said arnnsaid armhaving provision for permitting the disengagement of said enlargement therefrom.

5. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a movable. blower element, of a valve controlling the admission of steam or the like to said blower element, a flexible member for actuating said blower element, andcooperating means upon said valve and flexible member for opening and closing the valve upon actuation'ot the flexible member to move the blower element a predetermined amount.

6. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower element and a valve for controlling the admission of steam or the like thereto, of a flexible member for rotating said blower element, and means uponsaid valve and flexible member forsuccessively opening flexible member in one direction to rotate said wheel a distance to successively open and close said valve.

8. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with the blower element and a valve for controlling the admission of a cleaning fluid thereto, of a flexible member for actuating said blower element having a projection and means cooperating with said projection for controlling the actuation of said valve.

9. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower head, of a blower element mounted in the said blower head, a cleaning fluid supply pipe connected with said blower head, a flexible member connected to actuate the blower element and provided with an abutment, and a valve in said supply pipe along the length thereof at a point beyond the blower head, said valve having a portion projecting in the path of said abutment whereby the valve may be actuated by a movement of the flexible member.

10. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower head, of a blower element mounted in the said blower head, a cleaning fluid supply pipe connected with said blower head, a flexible member connected to actuate the blower element, a valve in said supply pipe along the length thereof at a point beyond the blower head, said valve having a portion engageable by said member whereby the valve may be actuated by a movement of the member..

11. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower, element, of means for supplying cleaning fluid to said element, a valve controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said element, a flexible member adapted to impart rotation to said element, and means spaced along said flexible member at predetermined intervals for successively opening and closing the valve for a continuous movement of the flexible member, the successive movements of the valve bearing a predetermined relation to the angular movement of the blower element.

12. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower element, of a. valve controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said blower element, a flexible member for actuating said blower element and for effecting the unseatingo'f the valve and means carried by the flexible member for directly indicating the position of the valve.

13. In combination a blower element, a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said blower element, a lever for actuating the said valve, a flexible element for actuating the said blower element, and means carried by said flexible element engageable with said valve'actuating lever upon a predetermined longitudinal movement of the said flexible element for actuating the said valve. 7 y

14. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower element, of a valve controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said blower element, a flexible member, means for actuating said blower element from said flexible member, and a mechanical connection between said valve and flexible member independent of said blower element actuating means for actuating the valve from the flexible member.

15. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower member, a valve member for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said blower member, a movable flexible element, and means carried by said flexible element for controlling the actuation of one of said members.

1%. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower gzmember, a valve member for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said blower member, and a movable flexible element having an enlargement arranged to control the actuation of one of said members.

17. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower element and a valve for controliing the admission of steam or the like thereto, of a flexible member for actuating .said blower element, and means cooperating with said flexible member for automatically limiting its movement.

' 18. In a boiler cleaner, the combination 1. a blower element adapted to discharge or the like and a valve for controlling thendmission of steam or the like to said blower element, of a flexible member for aceuating said blower element, said flexible member being provided with an enlargemeant, and an arm having a slot therein throu h which said flexible member extends, said s at having a width less than that of said enlargement, whereby movement of said flexible member is limited.

19. In a boiler cleaner, the combination witha rotary blower element and a valve for wat-rolling the admission of steam or the like thereto, of a flexible member for operating 'sai-d blower element, a rotatable stop member including an arm having a curved end provided with a slot through which said flexible member extends, and an enlargement upon flexible member engageable with the &0 curved end of said arm and held from passing through the slot therein, the curvature of said "arm holding said enlargement from lateral *niuvement of said arm. 7

20. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with-'a-rotary blower element and a valve for continuing the admission of steam or the like therethrough, of a chain for actuating said element provided with a series of spaced enlargements, and a stop member for the movement of said chain includ mg l multi arm wheel having an arm with a curved outer end, all of said arms having slots therein engageable by the chain and of a width less than that of said enlargements, the arm'having the curved end preventing lateral disengagement of the enlargement in contact there-with and thereby limiting the movement of the chain. 7

21. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower element, and a flexible member for rotating said blower element, of means cooperating with said flexible member and operable upon a predetermined movesnout thereof to lock said flexible member and blower element against further movement, said means being releasable to permit continued movement of said flexible member in the same direction upon a different move ment of the flexible member. s

22. In a boiler cleaner, a movable blower element, means including a flexible member operable upon continued movement in one direction to move said blower element in a predetermined direction, means operable upen a predetermined movement of the flex ible member to lock the same against further movement in the said direction to lock said blower element against movement, said looking sneans being releasable upon movement of the flexible member in a second direction to permit movement of the flexible member and blower element in the said first mentioned directions.

23. In a boiler cleaner, a movable blower element, a valve for controiling the flow of cleaning fluid to said blower element, a flexible member for movin said blower element, and means on said flexi e member operating upon movement of said flexible member in one direction to open said valve and upon movement of said flexible member in the other direction to close said valve.

24. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower element, a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to the blower element, a flexible member for rotating the blewer element, mean 5 providing an enlargement on said flexible member, and means cooperating with said enlargement operable upon movement or said flexible member in one direction to open said valve and operable upon movement of said flexible member in the other direction to close said vaive.

25. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower element, a valve operating in timed relation to the rotation of the blower element for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said blower element, a sheave wheel connected to said blower element for rotating the same, means including a flexible element engageable with said sheave for rotating said blower element, said flexible element being provided with an enlargement formed thereon, and means cooperating with the said enlargement for limiting movement of the said flexible element.

26. In a boiler cieaner, the combination with a rotatable blower adapted to discharge jets of cleaning uid, of a valve for controlling the supply of saidcleaning fluid to said pipe, means operable to actuate the said valve upon the rotation of the blower pipe, and means for rotating said pipe including a member fixed to rotate with the blower pipe, and a flexible operating member engageable with the first said member, andindicating means cooperating with said flexible member for indicating when the valve is in a position to shut ofl the supply of cleaning fluid.

27. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe adapted to discharge jets of cleaning fluid, of a valve for controlling the supply of said cleaning fluid to said pipe means operable to actuate the valve upon rotation of the blower pipe, and means for rotating said pipe, including a sheave and a chain operably engaging the sheave, and means located adjacent the path of the chain and cooperating with a predetermined portion thereof for indicating when the valve is in a position to shut ofl the supply of cleaning fluid to said pipe.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

NORMAN L. SNOW. 

